The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-06-04

.0A'Pci. Anu tnen Inc IRE WOulO NOT
draw, or the kettle would boil over,
the biscuit would burn in the oven, or
her pet cat would get under her feet
as she was hurrying from the table to
the stove, and up the angry words
would bubble, and Elihu, being the
only human creature at hand, would
pay the penalty of the general de.
pravity Of inanimate things" till he
woald fairly rush out Of the house,
sometimes uttering a mild protest to
the effect that: 1T did beat all why q
woman should want to act So" a pro-
test which would render his wife ten
times more angry than before, until
the time came for her wrath to die nat
urally away.
Yes, she could lay her hand upon
her heart, and say that she had often
tried, honestly, in the old days. to wear
a pleasant face and speak in a pleasant
tone. yet how signally had she failed.
And, at the last. she had fairly driven
him from the home he loved so we'll
Driven him. by that n singing word,
that false word, too, which she ought
to have known that he could not, and
would not bear.
"Shifless! l must have been quite
beside myself to say it." she thought,
as she stood in the open kitchen door,
n December evening, looking toward
the sunset on the distant hill. There
never was a better worker than Elihu
in Paramount. I'm SUR this farm
shows the difference since he left it,
and no n does by me as they agree
when they take the land. Well, I've
only myself to blame for it all! Oh,
how sorry l am! O Elihu, Elihu!
where in the wide world are you?
Oh, if you could only come home and
forgive me, how happy I should be!'
A sob choked her, and she raised her
apron to her eyes. Looking across
those snow-covered meadow lands to-
ward the hills, she had seen Deacon
Georges gray horse and green sleigh
turn in at the gate Of the George home
stead, had seen the end-door Of the
great red house fly open, letting out
the comforting glow and light Of an
open fire upon the kitchen hearth, had
seer the deacon's wife, fair and rosy in
her healthiul middle age, while the
''bound boy led the fat, gray horse
away to a good supper in its warm
stable.
Her own kitchen was now rosy with
tho light of the flames from two we'll
seasoned logs upon the hearth, and the
tea-table was spread with good things
for her lonely tea, yet she could not
turn from the spectacle Of her neigh
bors' household comfort, although she
gazed upon it through her tears.
Suddenly the gray cat and the black
cat, who had been basking side by side
in the heat upon the hearth, rushed to
the door with the same peculiar cry Of
welcome with which, S kittens, they
had been wont to greet their masters
coming two years ago.
A step. coming round the east corner
of the house as if from the well-room,
sounded on the snow. A voice, with
an odd tremble and quaver in it, said:
Tve brought the water for tea,
Hepsey."
Looking round with a pale, scared
face. rs if she expected to find II ghost
beside her, Mrs. Beaton saw her hus-
band, ruddy, brown and bearded, with
a bright, new tin pail, filled with water,
in his hand.
"Say no more about II, IIepsey,
exclaimed Elihu, when his wife
threw her arms around his neck with a
sobbing prayer to be forgiven. Il was
quite as much in the wrong rs you
were, that time, at least, for ! went
away proud and angry, and not caring
how much you might suffer when you
eOulU uOU uuu tIC iVtoV OltSC Va IIC |
about the farm. How did l go, do you
,skp Walked over to Stanton, across
lots, and hen by train to New York.
and on to California, like = fool as l
was! l grew homesick enough long be-
lore l got there. but my pride wouldn'
ct me come back till ! had made my
at the mines where Hunters
worked. And I've done it,
least it will be q fortune in
. place like Paramount, and there's
in reason that you may set
,our heart on. In future, that I can not
lford to give YOU"
70, Elihu, don't, don't be 50 goodr
obbed his wife. Il don't deserve it,
when I drove you away from home"
mot q word more Of that, I insist,
nv dear" said Elihu, ~ he drew her
.to the house and closed tho door.
We were two fools, and We know 1t
,ow. and wa shall be wise enough in